This successful project, carried out with the efforts of many individuals from several organizations, has resulted not only in important new archaeological information but has transformed a formerly badly disturbed and eroded mound to its former shape that can once again serve as a reminder and a respected symbol of Illinois’ prehistoric past. [Read more]

Robert Mazrim, of the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, discussed the frontier in the central Illinois region as seen through the eyes of an archaeologist in his presentation “Archaeological Reflections of the American Frontier in Illinois” at Wednesday’s meeting of the Illinois Valley Archaeological Society at Dickson Mounds Museum. [Read more]

A new video produced by ISAS highlights ongoing efforts by Brooklyn, Illinois community leaders and ISAS researchers to document and preserve important landmarks of this early African-American settlement. Cooperative efforts between ISAS researchers Miranda Yancey-Bailey and Dr. Joseph Galloy and Brooklyn community leaders such as Roberta Thompson Foster have led to the inclusion of the Quinn A.M.E. chapel in Brooklyn into the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, sponsored by the National Park Service.

Brooklyn's location directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis made it an important location in the Underground Railroad in the early-mid 19th century. A number of Brooklyn residents -Priscilla "Mother" Baltimore, William Paul Quinn, and Thomas Osborn- were instrumental in assisting former slaves to freedom.

St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh discusses the analysis of the East St. Louis Site with Brad Koldehoff, IDOT Chief Archaeologist and Dr. Joseph Galloy, ISAS Research Coordinator of the American Bottom Field Station. [Click to read synopsis and listen to the interview]

2013

On November 22, 2013, Governor Quinn formally presented official certificates to the Prairie Research Institute Surveys officially recognizing the important roles the state surveys and the State Scientists have within the Prairie Research Institute. Click here for more.

ISAS Director Thomas Emerson and Prof. Timothy Pauketat (ISAS Survey Affiliate) were invited guests of the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, at the SAF, August 22-27 August, 2013 held in Shanghai, China.

A new exhibit at the Western Illinois Museum in Macomb, Illinois, features artifacts excavated by ISAS archaeologists at the early-mid 19th century historic Chenoweth site. Selected objects including bottles, ceramics, coins, and toys illustrate the daily life of early historic occupants in western Illinois. Click here for more information.

With the August 14th signature of Public Act 098-0346 by Governor Quinn, the Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS) formally became one of the State Scientific Surveys comprising the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois. Dr. Thomas E. Emerson was appointed to fill the new position of State Archaeologist that was created as part of the Act. His 40 years of involvement in Illinois archaeology provides a solid foundation for his new position as Illinois’ first State Archaeologist.[posted August 22, 2013]

Chris Sabo, a film student at the time, created this video about ISAS excavations in East St. Louis ahead of the construction of a new Mississippi River bridge (now known as the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge).[posted July 2, 2013]

ISAS archaeologists have been searching for the "Illinois River Blockhouse" this past year. Documentary research and advanced scouting efforts identified a stone foundation suspected as being part of the blockhouse.

Representatives from the University of Illinois and volunteers worked on an archeological dig in a wooded area between Grafton and Pere Marquette State Park which is suspected to be a block house used to monitor the Illinois River at the onset of the War of 1812. Part of the block foundation was being uncovered as the archeologists looked for definitive evidence of a military presence, such as a military uniform button or weapon parts.

September is Archaeology Awareness Month in Illinois. This year's theme highlights the archaeology of the War of 1812 in the Illinois County. Since 2003 ISAS has been involved in excavations at Fort Johnson in Warsaw, Illinois.

The selection of a recently executed Statewide Programmatic Agreement for the Mitigation of Adverse Effects to Euro-American Tradition Archaeological Sites in the State of Illinois by the ACHP is an mark of the quality and professionalism of IDOT's Transportation Archaeology program under the leadership of of Dr. John Walthall (recently retired) and Brad Koldehoff, IDOT. Click here for copy of ACHP announcement [Link].

For their efforts on the New Mississippi River Bridge Project, ISAS and IDOT were selected as one of twelve groups from over 125 nominees recognized by the Federal Highway Administration to reward the commitment to deliver projects that protect and enhance the environment, but that also shorten project delivery, advance innovateive technology and "go greener."[August 31, 2011]

Illinois Artifact Looter Sentenced

2009

NEW PUBLICATION! Archaic Societies: Diversity and Complexity across the Midcontinent

Available through SUNY Press. Sweeping and detailed, this long-awaited volume is an indispensable guide to the Archaic period across the midcontinent. Archaeologists throughout the region share the latest excavation results and analytical perspectives to reveal and reinterpret the worlds of those Native peoples who lived there for some 9,000 years (up to about 3,000 years ago). Of particular concern is the establishment of relative and absolute chronologies for the Archaic period, the relationships between the artifacts left behind and the peoples who made and used them, and the changing interactions between cultures, climate, and landscape. Archaeologists offer useful, up-to-date overviews of Archaic societies, assessment of stratigraphic sequences, and detailed discussions of finds and interpretations from the Mississippi and Ohio river regions and the Great Lakes. Comprehensive and accessible, this landmark book is a must for anyone wanting to understand a crucial but little-understood period in North America’s prehistory.

Thomas E. Emerson is Director of the Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS), a Division of the Institute of Natural Resources Sustainability at the University of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Transportation. At ITARP, Dale L. McElrath is Senior Cultural Resource Archaeologist and Statewide Survey Coordinator, and Andrew C. Fortier is Special Projects Coordinator. Archaic Societies is a companion volume to their Late Woodland Societies: Tradition and Transformation across the Midcontinent.

2007-2008

ITARP Awarded National Endowment for the Humanities Grant

This project will assist us in organizing our large collection from the World Heritage Cahokia site that includes materials from some of the earliest work at this mound center under University of Illinois researchers A.R. Kelly and W. Moorehead in the 1930s as well as major excavations by long-time U of I professor Charles J. Bareis.
(posted March 15, 2008)

Dr. John Walthall and Illinois Department of Transportation's cultural resources management program have been honored by being awarded the Society for American Archaeology's 2008 Award for Excellence in Cultural Resource Management. Dr. Walthall was presented the award in Vancouver, BC at the annual SAA conference this spring. Joining him was his wife, Nina Walthall.
(posted April 3, 2008)

Listing of Transportation Archaeologists and Cultural Resource Managers by State

The list, linked via the ISAS Transportation Archaeology page, includes, at a minimum, a contact point in each state for transportation-related archaeological inquiries.

The list does not attempt to include all archaeological staff. For that information please contact the individual state offices.

Requests for changes to this list should be directed to Wendy Smith French, Assistant Coordinator, Statewide Survey Division, ISAS, University of Illinois at wfrench@uiuc.edu, 217-265-5479.

ITARP 2006 Annual Reportposted December 12, 2007

One of ITARP’s primary mission goals is to disseminate information to both professional audiences and the public at large. Our annual report is designed specifically to provide an overview of the program’s yearly activities for Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and University of Illinois (UIUC) administrators, the archaeological community, and the general public. The contexts of this report reflect the view of the contributors who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contexts do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of IDOT.

Krannert Art Museum, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dates: August 31, 2007 - June 1, 2008

The Archaeological Heritage of Illinois Exhibit

Prepared by professional archaeologists at the Illinois Transportation Archaeological Research Program (ITARP), this temporary exhibition presents objects of material culture related to native peoples who lived in Illinois from approximately 9500 B.C.E. to C.E. 1800. More than 100 items are on display, including clay figurines, bracelets and other ornaments, spear points and fish hooks, pipes, cooking jars, digging and weaving tools and ceremonial objects of exquisite quality and variety.

The French Colonial Heritage Projectposted April 4, 2007

ITARP and Sangamo Archaeological Center are proud to announce the French Colonial Heritage Project.

The French Colonial Heritage Project is designed to expand and summarize the understanding of life in French communities during the 18th and early 19th century using archaeological remains and documents from that period.